1 Corinthians 11-14

New King James Version

Worship and the Lord’s Supper

11 Imitate^(A) me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Head Coverings

² Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to know that ^(B)the head of every man is Christ, ^(C)the head of woman is man, and ^(D)the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or ^(E)prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were ^(F)shaved. ⁶ For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is ^(G)shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. ⁷ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since ^(H)he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man is not from woman, but woman ^(I)from man. ⁹ Nor was man created for the woman, but woman ^(J)for the man. ¹⁰ For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, ^(K)neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. ¹² For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

¹³ Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵ But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given ^[a]to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But ^(L)if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, ^(M)nor do the churches of God.

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For first of all, when you come together as a church, ^(N)I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For ^(O)there must also be factions among you, ^(P)that those who are approved may be ^[b]recognized among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and ^(Q)another is drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise ^(R)the church of God and ^(S)shame ^[c]those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper^(T)

²³ For ^(U)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: ^(V)that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ^[d]“Take, eat; this is My body which is ^[e]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death ^(W)till He comes.

Examine Yourself

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats ^(X)this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and ^[f]blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But ^(Y)let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks ^[g]in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the ^[h]Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many ^[i]sleep. ³¹ For ^(Z)if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, ^(AA)we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brethren, when you ^(AB)come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

12 Now ^(AC)concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ² You know ^(AD)that^[j] you were Gentiles, carried away to these ^(AE)dumb^[k] idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus ^[l]accursed, and ^(AF)no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

^4 (AG)There are ^[m]diversities of gifts, but ^(AH)the same Spirit. ^5 (AI)There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God ^(AJ)who works ^[n]all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given ^(AK)the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ^(AL)the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 (AM)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another ^(AN)gifts of healings by ^[o]the same Spirit, ^10 (AO)to another the working of miracles, to another ^(AP)prophecy, to another ^(AQ)discerning of spirits, to another ^(AR)different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(AS)distributing to each one individually ^(AT)as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body^(AU)

¹² For ^(AV)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^(AW)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^(AX)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(AY)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^(AZ)have all been made to drink ^[p]into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now ^(BA)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body ^(BB)just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no ^[q]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ^(BC)you are the body of Christ, and ^(BD)members individually. ²⁸ And ^(BE)God has appointed these in the church: first ^(BF)apostles, second ^(BG)prophets, third teachers, after that ^(BH)miracles, then ^(BI)gifts of healings, ^(BJ)helps, ^(BK)administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But ^(BL)earnestly desire the ^[r]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of ^(BM)prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, ^(BN)so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And ^(BO)though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^[s]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

^4 (BP)Love suffers long and is ^(BQ)kind; love ^(BR)does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[t]puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, ^(BS)does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[u]thinks no evil; ^6 (BT)does not rejoice in iniquity, but ^(BU)rejoices in the truth; ^7 (BV)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ^9 (BW)For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is ^[v]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For ^(BX)now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then ^(BY)face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and ^(BZ)desire spiritual gifts, ^(CA)but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who ^(CB)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks ^(CC)edification and ^(CD)exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; ^[w]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Tongues Must Be Interpreted

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by ^(CE)revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ⁷ Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without ^[x]significance. ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a ^[y]foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² Even so you, since you are ^[z]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the ^[aa]edification of the church that you seek to excel.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ^(CF)interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. ^(CG)I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing ^(CH)with the understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” ^(CI)at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²⁰ Brethren, ^(CJ)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice ^(CK)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

^21 (CL)In the law it is written:

says the Lord.

²² Therefore tongues are for a ^(CN)sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, ^(CO)will they not say that you are ^[ab]out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ^25 [ac]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report ^(CP)that God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, ^(CQ)has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. ^(CR)Let all things be done for ^[ad]edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and ^(CS)let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, ^(CT)let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And ^(CU)the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of ^[ae]confusion but of peace, ^(CV)as in all the churches of the saints.

^34 (CW)Let ^[af]your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the ^(CX)law also says. ³⁵ And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

³⁶ Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? ^37 (CY)If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But ^[ag]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ Therefore, brethren, ^(CZ)desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ^40 (DA)Let all things be done decently and in order.